In My Arms
"Naruto Uzumaki here! I hope you understand that I'm just too cool to answer right now so leave a message okay?"
Beep
"Now I'm thinking of a way that I could make an escape, its got me caught up in a web and my heart's the prey. Do you really wanna throw your heart away?"
Beep
-XxX-
Sasuke pressed the end call button and put the phone back down. He peered over at his brother who was too out of this world to really notice or care anymore what was going on around him. Part of Sasuke felt like the worst person in the world for slipping those drugs in Itachi's drink. But otherwise the elder would just continue to stare at him. As he had since they'd gotten here. Sasuke wasn't even let outside the house. When Itachi would leave for work Sasuke would be locked in the closet.
He turned the song off and picked the phone up again trying hard to remember the number.
Sasuke dialed the number and hoped that after all these years he hadn't changed his phone number. It rang but no one picked up.
"Hey thanks for calling, but I'm busy, so I guess you'll just have to leave a message and wait for me to call back. It's a long wait, but hey I'm a popular guy!"
"Obito! You're supposed to leave your name!"
Beep
Sasuke sighed quietly to himself in relief. It was the right number alright. He took a moment to wet his lips glancing at Itachi, who was still thankfully completely out of it.
"Obito, it's…uh, Sasuke. Your cousin…I need help…"
-XxX-
"Bro, like totally got off my back will ya!" Obito complained.
Shisui raised an eyebrow. "How am I younger and still more mature then you?" Shisui asked. "Your place is a mess, you forget at times to get food so you're living off bread and microwave popcorn. I seriously…"
"You sound like Mom! Knock it off will ya!"
He sighed. "Fine, don't complain to me like you always do though when you get sick because of you eating habits."
Obito shoved the door to his house open and tossed his keys on the floor. He just knew Shisui was glaring at him before he picked them up and set them on a table.
"Oh lookie! I got a message!" Obito exclaimed pressing the right button.
"You have three messages." The female sounding machine informed him. "First message:"
"Hey Bit, it's Rin. Just got in town and was wandering if you and Kakashi wanted to do something? Call back. If you don't I will castrate you. Kay? Byz!"
Obito shivered at that. He would call her back. He really didn't enjoy the thought of…*gulp* that.
"Obito, if you don't call me back within twenty-four hours I won't put out." Kakashi informed him over the phone.
He gave a nervous laugh when he noticed the look he was receiving from his younger brother. He would also be calling Kakashi back.
"Obito, it's…uh, Sasuke. Your cousin. Um…I need help…"
-XxX-
"You are my sweetest love. That love I always wanna hug. Because I really love you, the world just has to know." (A/N: this is for you Angela)
"Naruto what are you…" Sakura tried to ask, tried being the key word there.
He however just interrupted her to continue singing in a mock chibi voice. "I'll do anything for you! There's nothing I wouldn't do. Snuggle, cuddle up and hug me! With you I always want to be."
"I will hit you if you continue singing." She warned.
"Buzz kill." He replied under his breath.
She still heard him so he ended up getting smacked anyway.
"Naruto, can we go to your place for a bit?" Ino asked. "I'm starting to get hungry."
"You do realize that the only bit of food in Naruto's house is ramen right?" Sakura asked.
Naruto gave her a look. "You make it sound like I never eat anything else."
"Do you?"
"Only when I'm forced."
"Doesn't your Dad have normal food we can steal?" Ino asked.
"Hey! Ramen is totally normal food!" He defended.
-XxX-
Naruto pressed the button that would allow him to listen to his messages and waited for it to start. It's been a week since his last "call" from Sasuke and he being Naruto was starting to get worried.
Beep
"Oh no, this couldn't be more unexpected. And I can tell that I've been moving in so slow, but don't let that throw you off too far, cause I'll be running right behind you."
Beep
Still though, he smiled at that feeling a little less worried then before. It's been too long, and Naruto was feeling a since of withdrawal that only seemed to heal when he got one of these messages. Sasuke had always timed it so perfectly that he always got the machine. God he would feel so great if he just got to hear Sasuke's voice again. If not see him.
"You're still getting those messages?" Sakura asked.
"Yea." He replied walking away from the phone and to the kitchen section of his small house.
Ino was busy searching through the cabinets and throwing something together that was hopefully edible. "So you're getting phone stalked?" She asked as she examined her food.
"Is that what you call it?" Naruto asked.
"I think it's sweet." Sakura commented. "Torn apart for reasons unknown your one true calls you every so often to play music on your machine. It's romantic. There could be a book!"
He gave a nervous laugh at that. "I don't think I'd be comfortable with people reading about my life. But you're right it is sweet." His face slowly faded to sadness, something the two girls didn't see often on their friend and hated seeing. "I miss him. A lot."
Sakura sighed and gave Naruto a hug. "Let's make some ramen okay? I don't even want to try what Ino just threw together."
"C'mon it's not that bad!" Ino defended.
Naruto made a face at it. "Ino, when I reject something, you know it's disgusting."
She rolled her eyes and tossed it in the garbage. "Fine. Ramen."
-XxX-
Sasuke walked out of his bedroom. It was early, and it was already quiet. Was Itachi still asleep?
He walked out into the living room and something in his peripheral vision made him stop. He turned and looked at him. Sitting on the couch leaning forward, unmoving.
His heartbeat sped up and he swallowed the lump in his throat before he could will himself into approaching. He reached up and touched him, skin cold. He shivered and pulled his hand back.
Sasuke was shaking when he finally got himself to feel his brother's pulse. Nothing. His eyes widened and he backed away his legs hit the coffee table behind him and he fell backwards. Frozen. Itachi…was dead. His brother was dead. He thought maybe he should be happy, but…Itachi was his brother. Before all this, he had loved Itachi. There was no going back. He would never get the chance to see the old Itachi again.
He pushed himself off the ground and went straight to the phone.
-XxX-
Naruto woke up to the sound of his phone ringing and got up from the floor. He ignored the two grumbling girls who hated being woken up and answered the phone. (A/N: There is a difference in time zone. This call happens four hours after Itachi is disovered by Sasuke)
"Hello?" He asked into the phone yawning slightly.
"This place is so empty, my thoughts are so tempting."
His blue eyes widened at the sound of his voice.
"I don't know how it got so bad. Sometimes it's so crazy but nothing can save me, but it's the only thing that I have."
"Yea, I get it. If you believe it's in my soul. I'd say all the words that I know. Just to see if it would show that I'm trying to let you know. That you're better off with me."
"You change the lyrics, Dobe." Sasuke commented.
"Your voice is shaking." Naruto replied.
"Sorry, things are a bit hectic right now."
"Hectic, huh?"
"Two months later, Naruto does your offer still stand?" He asked.
"I told you it will. No matter what. Are you coming back?" Naruto asked feeling anxious.
"Yea, I'm coming back home."
-XxX-
Naruto was nervous to say the least. He only relaxed slightly when they reached the park. And then he headed, as fast as his legs could run, off to the back by the woods. The moment he made it there and looked around he forced himself to calm down. He was early after all. So he hoped up onto the table and sighed.
"So what are we doing here?" Kiba asked. "And why's he so jumpy?"
"It's Naruto, do we need another reason?" Shikamaru commented.
Ino rolled her eyes. "Honestly, you two will never be able to understand romance."
"Naruto came here to wait for his one true love to return." Rock Lee commented smiling at Sakura.
Sakura blushed and smiled back taking his hand and walking off to catch up with Naruto.
"'One true love, huh?'" Shikamaru asked. "Well I couldn't pull it off; guys like me couldn't really do something like that."
"Oh go be moral support. No wander you're still single." Ino snorted.
"Whose single?" Shikamaru asked showing her his phone.
To say she gaped like a fish would be an understatement. Still she took his cell and reread the text. "OMG, OMG, who's Tayuya? Shika's got a girlfriend! OMG, she's texting you love-dovey stuff! AND YOU'RE TEXTING BACK! OMG, OMG, OMG!"
"I think you broke her." Kiba commented.
Ino paused and glared pulling herself together and handing him his phone back. "Jeez, Shikamaru, I'm just surprised. I mean…did it ever occur to you to y'know. Tell people that you'd met someone?" She suggested.
"Not really." He replied and the trio began heading over to the back where the other's had gone.
"Who is she?" She demanded in using the tone of voice that meant that there would be blood if she wasn't informed.
"She's a classmate. That's all. She kicked my ass, apologized and asked me out."
Ino raised an eyebrow. "O-kay then."
"Aren't you single though?" He asked her.
She blushed and gave Kiba a look. "Uh, I guess."
"Wait, are we or aren't we dating?" Kiba asked her.
"Are we?" She asked.
"Didn't I just ask that?"
Shikamaru rolled his eyes. "Troublesome." He commented as they reached where everyone else was already at.
-XxX-
Sasuke looked at his watch and tried not to groan aloud.
"Are you gonna get sick again?" Obito asked looking back at him in the review mirror. "I think you used to get carsick all the time."
"No, why?" Sasuke asked.
"You look pale."
"He's always pale." Shisui replied from next to Sasuke in the back.
"Well he looks…sweaty." Obito added.
"We're all sweaty," Kakashi commented from the passenger seat "because you won't turn on the damn air-conditioner."
Rin rubbed her temples and breathed in through her nose to keep herslef from yelling. She looked at the kid in the seat next to her and sighed. "Obito, when I said I wanted to do something, I didn't think we'd end up on a road trip to Canada."
"It's seven." Sasuke commented. "We're an hour late."
"Shouldn't you rest a bit before meeting with friends?" Kakashi asked.
"I can't rest. Not until I see him." He replied looking out the window.
Obito smiled. "Don't worry, we're almost there."
He was right; he caught sight of the park just a little ways ahead. He looked into the park, the sun was setting but it was still light enough for tons of people to be about. His heart squeezed at the thought of this park being placed in the exact spot his old home had once been. The home where he lived with his kind Mother, and somewhat emotionally-constipated but caring father, and Itachi. The real Itachi. The one who loved him. And the one he loved.
Then he saw the familiar yellow, matching and mimicking the color of the sun.
"Let me out!" Sasuke exclaimed suddenly knowing exactly who that yellow hair belonged to. They were an hour late, but he was still there waiting. Sasuke suddenly felt like crying.
Obito stopped the car and unlocked the doors, as his youngest cousin jumped out of the car and ran into the park. They watched for a moment as he ran straight over to the group of people over by the woods. A place where at one point Sasuke's backyard had been.
"Aw, young love." Kakashi commented.
Obito snickered. "Hai!" He flashed Kakashi a smile and put the car back in drive heading over to the nearest parking space.
Sasuke ran not really caring that it made people stareat him.
When he got close enough he slowed to a stop and stared at that blonde hair as the owner of it was talking to Sakura.
She glanced at him and the gestured her head at him for Naruto. The blonde turned around slowly and looked at him.
Blue eyes met black.
And Naruto smiled.
"Hey, Sasuke! Welcome back!"
Sasuke knew he was crying. And for once, he didn't give a shit. He was running again in less then a second and hugged him.
Naruto was slightly taken aback by his actions. Guess Sasuke really did miss him as much as he had missed Sasuke. Maybe more. So he wrapped his arms around the pale body and hugged him back. Something he had only ever wished he could do again.
"Naruto! I love you." He said into his shoulder.
Naruto smiled. "I know." He replied.
"I love you too."
-XxX-
"I wanna swing, everyone who isn't Sasuke and Naruto, come with me." Sakura announced.
"Smooth, Sak." Ino commented but followed her anyway dragging Kiba along.
Naruto smirked at them. So it turned out that none of the boys cared he was gay. As long as he didn't do anything to them. Huh. Why the hell didn't they say so sooner?
"So how'd he die?" He asked.
Sasuke looked up at the sky a few stars were visible but the sun hadn't set completely yet. "Overdose. He was apparently doing all kinds of drugs." He answered. "I think I should've noticed sooner. Even back before the fire, I should've noticed. But I still refused to think it, even after…I think he wanted to die."
Naruto looked at him and Sasuke sensed this looked back over at Naruto. Hm, prettier then the sun.
"I know he set our house on fire. I know he was the one who killed Mom and Dad. And he wanted to die to. He wanted us all to die then. That's why he made me hit my head. But Shisui and Obito showed up and saved us. Itachi set that fire and intended to die in there with his family. I think he hated me because he couldn't die then."
"Shisui and Obito, huh?" Naruto asked. "Those are two people I'm eternally grateful to."
Sasuke raised an eyebrow at him.
"Without their help, you wouldn't be here with me now."
He smiled. "I suppose they do something right once in awhile."
Naruto made a mental note of this moment. Sasuke smiling (really smiling), the sun setting, the beautiful green scenery around them. It really was like a romantic novel. He leaned over and kissed Sasuke lightly, the scene telling him to if only to finish it.
Sasuke kissed back without hesitating. Naruto really was nothing like Itachi at all.
"You're the most beautiful man I know." Naruto added.
"Hm, you're not so bad yourself." Sasuke replied.
Naruto mocked offended for a moment but ended up laughing anyway. "C'mon, I'm hungry. Hey, you wanna go to Ichiraku's with me?"
Sasuke thought about it for a moment. Then nodded. He was pretty hungry after all. "Yea, let's go."
"Guys! We're going to Ichiraku's so get your asses moving!" Naruto called to their friends.
"Employee discount abuse! Naruto's buying!" Sakura called.
Naruto gave her a look and flipped her the bird thankful there were no more kids left to witness it.
"Sasuke-kun!" Sakura took his arm and Ino latched onto the other.
"We're stealing your boyfriend Naruto. He's gonna walk ahead with us!" Ino informed him skipping ahead and pulling Sasuke with her.
His only response was making a face and complying for now. He'll sit with Naruto when they got to Ichiraku's.
Naruto shook his head but let them have their fun. He'd steal Sasuke back at the restaurant.
"Well buddy, you've got yourself a boyfriend." Kiba commented. "And I have an interesting question for you."
"What?" The blonde asked wandering if he'd regret this.
"Are you going to be catcher or pitcher?" He asked.
"You have no shame. No shame at all." Naruto commented. "And I would totally be pitcher."
Knowing,
Clouds will rage and
Storms will race in
But you will be safe
In My Arms
Rains will pour down
Waves will crash around
But you will be safe
In My Arms
In My Arms by: Plumb
NearKunn: O.O it's over…I feel like crying. I'm sitting here feeling like I wanna cry because I…I don't want it to end!
Naruto: You do realize that you're in control of when this ends right?
NearKunn: So?
Naruto: So, it's your fault that it's over.
NearKunn: …you suck.
Sasuke: IT'S OVER! *tears of joy*
Sakura: Oh my god, he's really crying.
Itachi: This sucks! I totally wanted to end up with Sasuke!
Sasuke: O.O *hides behind Naruto* I'm good.
NearKunn: *sigh* to think I actually like you people half the time. Oh well, I enjoy fanfiction more! But it's over and done with, and that's one story to cross off my list and put away in the uploaded folder on my ff computer. I really will miss this.
Itachi: Well, since it's over should we really tell them to review?
Anko: It's never too late to review. NearKunn is always looking at her closed stories to see if they've gotten a new review.
Suigetsu: So REVIEW! I dislike not being in this by the way, so you better make it up to me in Hunter or Prey.
NearKunn: Well, thank you all for reading very much!
Sakura: Review kay?
Hinata: And p-please don't flame.
Temari: Flames result in death. And we don't mean one of us. We mean you.
Tenten: *breaks out the Pepsi as everyone here is underage* Have a great day!
All but Sasuke who is secretly mad that it's over: BYE!
Chapter 1
Never too Late by: Three Days Grace
Chapter 2
My Only One by: Yellowcard
Chapter 3
Anything for You by: Evanescence
Chapter 4
Move Along by: The All American Rejects
Chapter 5
What Lies Beneath by: Breaking Benjamin (quite possibly the best band ever)
Chapter 6
I'm So Sick by: Flyleaf
Chapter 7
Touched by: Vast
Chapter 8
All I Need by: Within Temptation
Chapter 9
Comatose by: Skillet (also quite possibly the best band ever)
Chapter 10
Headlock by: Imogen Heap
Chapter 11
Rain by: Breaking Benjamin
Chapter 12
Falling Inside the Black by: Skillet
Chapter 13
Beside You by: Marianas Trench (yet another band to own my heart)
Chapter 14
Take Me Away by: Avril Lavigne
Chapter 15
Memory by: Sugarcult
Chapter 16
Victims of Love by: Good Charlotte
So Contagious by: Acceptance
Pieces by: Sum 41
In My Arms by: Plumb
Other suggestions that weren't used but are still awesome songs:
Bittersweet Syphony by: The Verve
Fix You by: Coldplay